Amusement machine



July 11, 1933. J. F, MEYER 1,917,386

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 29', 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet'l 70 $.76' 1 2 67 W y /5 @Q7/@ J fr? @zin/@55: m'/ gnge/ MM 4p/Mg @y 27W .m5/z

J. MEYER AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sepia. 29, 1950 Sheets-Shes?. 2

July 11, 1933,. F MEYER v1,917,386

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 29,' 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 1l, 1933. 1 F, MEYER 1,917,386

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 frs Patentedv .luly 11, 1933 UNITED STAT-ss Y1,917,3ai

JOHN F. MEYER, 0F PASADENA., CALIFORNIA AMUSEMENT MACHINE Application filed September 29, 1930. Serial No. 485,044.

This invention relates to amusement machines and more particularly to amusement machines with which a vending device is associated.

The salient objects of my invention are to provide an annisement machine into which a coin or the like may be introduced for passage over a member arranged to vary the path of movement of the coin thereover; in which the member over which the coin travels will be manually movable in order that the discharge of the coin therefrom may be controlled so that the coin will either be directed into a receptacle in the machine or will be returned out of the machine; in wnicli a dispensing device will be rendered operative each time a coin is passed into the machine; in which the vending device may be operated but once for each inserted coin; and in which the coin passage into the machine may be manuallj-,f' controlled.

ln the accompanying drawings a selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and therein Fig. l is a front elevation ofV a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1; n

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken subst; itially on the line 3-3 on Fig. 1;

a horizontal sectional view taken subst... tially on the line l-A on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially en the line 5-5 on Fig. 2;

6 is a. vertical sectional view taken si'lbstantially on the line 6-6 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on the line 7-7 on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on the line 8 8 on Fig'. 3.

ln the selected embodiment of my invention illustrated in the'accompanying drawings 9 generally indicates the housing of my improved machine having side walls 1() and 1.1.a rear wall12 including a removable panel 13. a bottom wall 14 and a top wall 15. EX- tending between the side walls and 11 below the top wall 15 is a rail 16 and a rail 17 extends between the side walls l() and ll in spaced relation `with the bottom 14. In the y side walls 10 and 11 and the rail 16 a rabbeted groove is provided into which a transparent panel 19 is fitted, said panel also resting in agroove vin the rail 17, and this panel closes' the front of the housing 9. EXtending across therhousing 9 slightly inwardly of the panel 19 is a plate 20. A-rockable mem-Y ber 21, substantially bell shaped in outline, is supported byv a screw 22 or the like extended througlrthe plate 20 adjacent the upper end thereof, a spacing washer 28 being disposed about the screw 22 and between the rockable member 2l and the plate 20. A spacing strip 24 is disposed between the plate 20 and the rockable member 21 adjacent the lower yedge of said member. As best shown in Fig. 1, the rockable member21 is of less width than the housing 9 for the purpose to be brought forth presently. Along the sides of the rockable member 21 outstanding flanges 25 are provided, the utility of which willbe set forth presently. Extending outwardly from the forward face of the rockable member 21 in a predetermined arrangement are a pluralityv of pins 26. The pins 26 and the flanges 25 terminate inwardly of the panel 19 to provide a slight clearance therebetween, this clearance being of a magnitude less than the thickness of a coin to be inserted into the machine. The upper forward edge of the member 21 is bevelled as indicated at 27 and the lower edge of the rail 16 is bevelled as indicated at 28. In the top wall -15 a slot 29 is provided, the inner edge of which is aligned with the upper edge of the bevel 27 in order.

that a coin passing through the slot 29 will pass over the bevel 27 into engagement with the bevel 28 from whence Vit will pass downwardly over themember 21, and the pins 26 are so disposed that a coin so passing over the member 21 will strike thereagainst in. order that the course of the coin will be varied from a straight line. Asbest illustrated in Fig. 6, a slot 30 is provided in the plate 20, andV an eyelet 31 or the like is secured to the member 21 and extends through the slot-30. A horizontally disposed plate 32 has the side edges thereof disposed in rabbeted grooves in the sides 10 and 11 (Fig. 6) and supports a spring 40 is disposed about said rod between said pin andthe wall 10. Another pin 41 is extended through therod and a spring 42 extends between this pin and the lug 34. The

spring is preferably slightly stronger than the spring 42 `and tends to center the member 21 with respect to the front of the housing 9, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A slender rod 43 or the like is fixed in the rod 35 and is extended through the eyelet 31. Therefore, by gripping the knob 38 the rod 35 may be moved in either direction against the action 'of the springs 40 and 42, and such movement of the rod 35 is transmitted through the slender yieldable rod 43 to the eyelet 31 and thereforeto the member 21 which may therefore be rocked about the pivotal mounting thereof fora purpose to be made apparent presently. The lower end of the'plate 2O is curved to extend toward the panel 19 as indicated at 44, and in this manner a Vpassage 45 is provided which is aligned with the space between the member 21 and the panel 19 and thus a coin 'which has passed overt-he member 21 will travel into this passage 45 from whence it will be directed` into the coin box 46 below the horizontal plate 32, the forward edge of said pl'ateibeing cut vaway in alignment with the passage 45 as indicated at 47. A vertically extending wall 48 extends between the 'plate 32 and the bottom 14 and provides a lrear wall for the coin box 46. The front ofthe coin box 46 is closed by a plate 49 which has a iiange (Fig. 6) at one end thereof that fits into a groove in the wall 10, said plate 49 resting on the lower wall 14 and engaging the rail 17 vto completely close the front of the coin box 46. On the plate 49 at the end thereof opposite the ange 50 there 'isa lock51 which has a tongue 52 that lits into a recess 53 in theside wall 11, and this lock in cooperation with the flange 50 secures the plate 49 in position. At spaced intervals in the passage 45 coin entrappng members 54 are disposed which include substantially rectangular passages 55 and the members 54 Ainclude upstanding portions, on the rear edges thereof, at the upper ends of which portions projecting lips 56 are provided. The passages 55 are disposed in the passage 45 rand the lips 56 are aligned therewith. l Thus 'a coin passing from the member 21 may strike on a lip 56 and be deflected from entrance into one of the passages 55 and a coin so striking will pass out through'the passage 45 into the coin box. However, by reason of the fact that the member 21 may be moved it is possible to direct a coin passing from the member 21 between the lip 56 and the edge 57 (Fig. 1) on the members 54 and thus a coin will pass into the passage 55. A coin entering into one of the passages 55 will be held therein by one of t-he lugs 58 (Fig. 4) on the plate 59 disposed on the upper surface of the plate The plate 59 has slots 60 therein through which screws 61 are extended and thus the plate 59 is slidable on the upper surface of the plate 32. A spring 62 extends between spring anchors on the wall11 and the plate 59 to normally urge the plate into a position wherein the lugs 58 will be aligned with the passages 55. In a manner to be described, the plate 59 is moved against the action of the spring 52 to withdraw the lugs 58 from position below thel passages 55 and thus a coin which has been trapped therein will be permitted to pass therefrom. Gn the rear of the plate 49 a metal strip 63 (Figs. 3 and 6) is secured and from the upper edge of this strip 63 lugs 64'are bent, said lugs being aligned with the passages 55. Therefore, ra coin moving from one of the passages 55 will strike one of the lugs 64 and be directed into the passage 65 in the plate 49. The passage 65 terminates in an opening 66 which opens through the front wall of the plate 49 and therefore a coin which passes into the passage 65 may be removed `from the machine through the opening 66 and therefore such a coin is, as it is termed in the art, returned. It has been pointed out that a coin is introduced into the device through the slot 29. 1n order that but one coin at a time may be introduced into the machine through the slot 29 I have provided the following arrangement: Aplate 67 is mounted on the upper wall 15 adjacent the forward edge thereof and secured to the rear wall of this plate 67 at the medial portion thereof is a castiu g 68 havin a coin passage 69 therein. A coin opening 70 of a size determined by the size of the coins to be used in the machine is provided in the plate 67 in alignment with the coin` passage 69. Coins are inserted into the passage 69 through said opening 70. Openings 71 are provided inthe casting 63 in cooperation with the coin passage 69 through which pins 72 are extended, and these pins are normally disposed in the passage 69 to interrupt movement of the coins 73 therethrough, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The pins 72 are carried by pivotally mounted dogs 73 which are' urged into engagement with each other by the spring 74 (Fig. 8), the lower `ends of said spring bearing on the cam surfaces on the dogs 73. On the front of the plate 67 a handle 75 is provided carrying a pin 76 which extends through a slot 77 in the plate 67 and which is connected to a pusher member 7 8, thespring74 also being connected to said igsiagsse.

pusher member. In a manner to be describedi presently7 the pusher member 78 is normally maintained inthe up position illustrated. in. Fig. 7, but when the handle 7 is moved` downwardly this movement is transmitted through the pin 76 to the pusher member 78 and? said pusher member engages the coin 73 which willbe resting on the pins 72, as depicted'l in Fig. 7, and as the member 78 continues to` move downwardly the coin will act on the pins 7 2 to cam the dogs 73 apart and therefore the coin will be free to pass into the slot 29. Should no coin be resting on the pms 72 and the handle 754 be moved downwardly, the engaging portions of the spring 74 will act on cam surfaces-onthe dogs 73 to securely urge the dogs together, and. other portions of the mechanism controlled by these dogs will not be permitted to move into operating position. lin-the casting 68 there is a vertically ext-ending opening 79in which the upper end of the vertically extending bar 80 is disposed. As best illustrated in Fig. 3,. the pin 7 6l is connected tothe bar 80 and the lower end of this bar 80 is disposed in an` opening in the upper wall of the bracket 33. A1 pin: 81v is-provided in"4 the bar 80 and a. springY 82 is disposed about said bar between' said pin and the upper end: of the bracket 33, andi it is this spring which. normally urges the handle into the up position, previously mentioned'. Pivotally mount-ed on the bracket 33 is a bell crank. generally indicated by 83,.andf the free end' ofthe arm 84 thereof is disposedl below the pin 85 on the bar 80. l,When the bar is moved downwardly by the depressing of the'handle 75, the pin 85-acts on the arm 84 to move the bell crank 83 whereby the foot portion. 86 at the free end of the arm 8-7- of thebell` crank 83 will engage the pin 88` on the plate 59 to more said plate 59 against the action of the spring 62, and thus withdraw the lugs 58 from below the passagesv 55. TheV bar 80 may be moved in an amount sufhcient to accomplish this by reason of the clearance between the pusher member 78 and the dogs 73 when said dogs are in engaged position as shown in Fig. 8. It has been pointed out that a vending or dispensing device is associated with the machine and operation of this dispensing device is controlled fronrv the bar 80. lVhen the dogs 73 are in engaged position, downward movement of the bar 80 is limited by engagement of the pusher member 7 8 with these engaged: dogs, but when the pusher member 7 8 is operating on a coin the dogs 73 are separated and therefore thepusher member 7'8 andv consequently the bar 80 may move downwardlyin an amount greater than that required to release a coin` from-t the coin entrapping members 54. Pivotally mounted on the bar 80 adjacent the lower end thereof is a latch 89 which is normally' urged outwardly by the spring 90- (iFigi3). lVhen the har'80 movesdownward-ly inthel greater amount, such as illustrated inf dotted'y lines-in. Fig. 6;. the nose 91 (Fig. 3). of thev latch 891i engages below the tongue* 92 (Fig. 6)v on the arm 93 .pivotally mounted on the slide 94 of the dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a. casting. 95 that isy mounted on the wall 32 and the slide 94 is movable' relativeto this casting 95. The slide 94 includes a discharge spout 96` having a: slot 97 therein through.- whichv al plate 98 is eX- tend'ed, and. this plate 98 closes the-passage. through. the dischargev spout 96 when: the parts are disposed@l in: the full-line positionof Fig;l 5. Supported; from the casting 95 is a lug 99: and the pivotally mounted?v arm 93 has a plurality of ratchet teeth 100'thereinwhich cooperate with the lug 99 to hold the slide 94 against movement, a. spring 101 acting; on the arm: 93 to hold the arm 93in a position such that the teeth 100-will engage the lug 99. A spring 102eXtends between springanchors on the wall 11 and the slide 94 and normally urgesthe slide-into the position illustrated inY Fig. 5. However, when the bar 80 moves downwardly, the nose 91` engages below the tongue 92 and when the spring 82 moves the bar upwardly, the engagement of the nose 91` with thetongue 92 causes the arm 93 to be pivoted against the action of the spring: 10.1. A rod 103 is connected to the slide'94 andlextends through an opening'inv the wall 10'and a guide bearing 104 onf said.; wall and has a knob 105 thereon which .engages the guide bearing to-limit the action of the spring102. However, when the teeth 100 are disengaged' from. the lugY 99 the knob .105 may be grasped and the slide 94 may be'moved into the dottedline position of Fig. 5. When said knob is released, the spring 102 returns theslide 94 to the-full-line position of Fig. 5; VllhenE the slide-94 is moved outwardly into the dottedline position, the tongue 92 is disengaged from the nose 91 and therefore the spring 101 acts on the arm93 tourge the same downwardly andf therefore asthe spring 102 returns-the slide 94, theteeth 100-will successively engage the lug 99 and it will therefore be impossible to'aga-in pull the slide 94. outwardly until the nose 91 has been againl engaged with the tongue 92 which will not take place until another coin has been inserted'. A suitable storage chamber 106 is aligned with the casting-,95.fand articles to be Vended, such as balls of candyv or` chewing gum and the like, indicated by 107, may be stored' therein. When the slide is in its inner or full-line position of- Fig. 5, the articles 107 rest on the plate 98, asshown in Fig. 5, but when' the slide is moved to the dotted-line position these artil cles move through the discharge spout and thev lowermost of the articles rests on the foot portion 108 of the bracket 109 (Figs: 3 and.` 5'). The next to the lowermost articleis in a: position such thatl wheny theV slide returns to the full-line position this article will be above the plate 98 while the lowermost article will be therebelow and will be free to pass through the opening 110 in the wall 32 which is aligned with the inward or full-line position of the slide. A discharge chute 111 is aligned with the opening 110 and extends through an opening in the wall 10 into a cover structure 112 and therefore the article 107 which passed through the opening 110 will travel through the'chute 111 into the cover structure 112. The article will be prevented from passing from the cover structure by the lid 113 thereof which is pivoted as indicated at 114, and when this lid is pivoted froln closing position the article may be removed.

In use, a coin is introduced through the opening into the coin passage 69 from whence it passes into engagement with the pin 72 and rests thereon. The handle 75 may then be moved downwardly and the pins 72 will be spread apart and consequently the dogs 78, and therefore the rod 80 may be moved downwardly sufficiently to dispose the nose 91 below the tongue 92, and when the handle 75 is released the spring 82 will act on the rod to cause elevation of the arm 93 which will disengage the teeth 100 from the lug 99. Therefore, the handle 105 may be gripped and the-slide 94 moved int-o the dotted-line position of Fig. 5, and one of the articles 107 will move below the plate 98 onto the foot portion 108 whereby when the slide 94 is returned to the full line position by the spring 102 the article on the foot portion 108 will fall through the opening 110 into the discharge chute 111. In the event the coin whichwas forced past the pins 72 by the pusher member 78 passed down over the member 21 and did not enter one of the coin entrapping members 54 this coin will have passed into the coin box 46. During the time the coin is passing down over the member 21 the rod 35 may be manipulated and the member 21 rocked andthus if the user is sufficiently skilled a coin may be directed into one of the coin entrapping members 54. Should this occur, the coin will rest on one of the lugs 58. The handle 75 may again be moved sufiiciently to engage the pusher member 78 with the dogs 78 which will be held in engagement by the spring 74 but this amount of movement of the handle 75 will move the rod 80 sun'iciently to pivot t-he hell crank 83 whereby the lugs 58 will be withdrawn from the retaining position and thus the coin will'pass out through the passage 65 in the plate 49 and by reaching into the opening 66 this coin may be removed from the machine.

It is apparent from the foregoing description rthat I have provided an amusement machine with which a vending or dispensing device is associated and-that this vending device is so arranged that but one article will be discharged for each coin inserted into the machine. Furthermore, the device is so arranged that it will afford amusement in that the user may move the member over which the coin is passing to direct thecoin into a member from which it will be returned if caught therein. This not only affords amusement but requires skill, and it is therefore apparent that a useful vending machine has been provided which will also afford amusement.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be. understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the following claims.

1. In an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a rockable member extending in a vertical plane and over which an introduced coin is adapted to move, normally centered means on said member for varying the path of movement of the coin, means yieldably connected to said normally centered means for imparting movement thereto, and means for entrapping the coin after passage over sai-d member.

2. In an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a rockable member extending in a vertical plane and over which an introduced coin is adapted to move, operating means for moving said rockable member, yieldable means for connecting said operating means to said rockable member, means on said member for varying the path of movement of the coin, means for entrapping the. coin after passage over said member, an-d a coin receptacle for receiving a coin moving past said entrapping means.

3. In an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a rockable member extending in a vertical plane and over which an introduced coin is adapted to move, normally centered means for rocking said member, means on said member for varying the path of movement of the coin, means for entrapping the coin after passage over said member, a coin receptacle for receiving a coin passing said entrapping means, and common means for releasing a coin to said rockable member and a coin trapped in said entrapping means, and operable to release a coin in said coin entrapping means without releasing a coin to said rockable member.

4. In an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a mov-able member over which an introduced coin may be directed, means for moving said member, means on sai-d member for varying the path of movem-ent of the coin, means for entrapping the coin after passage over said member, a coin receptacle for receiving a coin passing said entrapping means, and removable means preventing 'access to said coin receptacle and having a coin return passage therein communicating with said entrapping means and means interposed between said entrappingnieans and said coin return passage and retractable to permit a coin to pass into said coin return passage from said entrapping means.

5. ln an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a roekable meinber extending in a vertical plane and over which an introduced coin is adapted to move, means at kthe upper.` end of said roelrable member about which said roclable member may pivot, means toi-` moving said member, means en said member for varying thepath of movement ot the coin, means for entrapping the coin after passage over saidmeinber, a coin receptacle tor receiving coin passing said entrappin-g means, means pre venting access to said coin receptacle and providing a coin return passage communicating with said eiitrapping means, retractable means interposed between said entrapping means and return passage, and means for withdrawing said retractable means to permit passage of a coin from the entrappin g means into said coin return passage.

G. ln an amusement machine into whichv a coin may be introduced, a rockablev member extending in a vertical plane and over which an introduced coin is adapted `to move, normally centered means i'or moving said member, means on said member for varying the path of movement of the coin, means lier entrapping the coin after passage over said member, a coin receptacle for receiving a coin passing said entrapping means, means preventing` access to said coin receptacle Vand providing a coin return ia'ssage communi-Y' eating with said enti'apping means, retract-- able means interposed between said entrapping means and return passage, and coinmon means for controlling the passage of the coin to said rockable member and 'for withdrawing the retractable means to permit passage of a coin from said entrapping means into said return passa-ge.

7. ln an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a member over which the coin may be directed, said member having means thereon for varying the path of movement of the coin thereover, coin entrapping means adapted to receive a coin passing from said member, and common means for controlling passage of a coin to said member and for releasing a coin trapped in said entrapping means and operable to release a coin in said entrapping means without releasing a coin to said member. y

S. ln a machine of the class described, a member over which a coin may be passed,

.Y said ing portions for preventing direct move ment of the coinint'o said ,coin entrapping;

means whereby the member must bemoved jto directa coin into the` coin entrapping means, and means for returning a coin trapped in said entrapping means.

10.7111 a machine of the class described, .i

coin receiving means, coin collecting means, a member 'for varying the path'o'f movement of a coin between said coin receiving means and said coin collecting means, means for releasing a coin from said coinl receiving means for passage over said member, and' means regulated by said coin releasing means for controlling the dispensing of an article from said machine upon each operation of said releasing means.

ll. In a `machine of the class described,

coin receiving means, coin'collecting means, means for varying the path of movement of a coin between said coin receiving means and coin collecting means, dispensing means, means for locking said dispensing means in non-dispensing position, and means for releasing a coin from said coin receiving means and for unlocking said'dispensing means whereby saidv dispensing means may be operated to permit the passage of an article therefrom. v f

12. ln a machine of the class described, coin receiving means, coin collecting means, coin entrapping means, a member disposed between said coin vreceiving means and saidy coin collecting aiid'entrapping ineans,`dispensing means, means for locking` said dispensing means in non-dispensing position,

and means ior releasing a coin from said coin receiving means and for releasing a coin trapped in said entrapping means and for Aunlocking said dispensing' means whereby saidr dispensing means may be operated t0 permit passage ot an article therefrom.

13.111 a machine of the class described, coin receiving means, coin collecting means, coin entrapping means, a member disposed between said coin receiving means and said coin collecting and entrapping means, Vdispensing means, means for locking said dispensing means in non-dispensing position, means for releasing a coin Jfrom lsaid coin receiving means and for releasing a coin trapped in said entrapping means and for unlocking said dispensing means'whereby said dispensing means may be operated to permit passage of an article therefrom, and means for limiting movement of said releasing means whereby 'a coin lmay be released ing and coin entrapping means, means for closing 'said coin collecting means and having a'passage therein communicating With said entrapping means, means interposed between said coin entrapping means and said passage for preventing movement of a coin from saidentrapping means to said passage,

and means for releasing a coin from said coin receiving means and for withdrawing the means preventing movement of a coin fromV said entrapping means into said passage.

15. In an amusement machine into which a coin may be introduced, a member including means for varying the path of movement of the coin through the machine, means for entrapping the coin after passage over said member, a coin receptacle for receiving a coin passing to said entrapping means, and common means for releasing a coin to said member and a coin trapped in said entrapping means, said common means being operable to release a coin trapped in said entrapping meanswithout releasing a coin to said JOHN F. MEYER. 

